A prize of $1,000 and publication in Only Poems will be given annually for a single poem that is in the spirit of Leonard Cohen and “deals in some way with the...
read moreWriting Contests, Grants & Awards
The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.
Masters Review
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/8/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 and publication in Masters Review is given annually for an excerpt of an unpublished novel or novel-in-progress by an emerging writer. The winner...
read moreNarrative
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $27
Application Deadline: 11/13/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $2,500 is given annually for a short story, a work of flash fiction, an essay, a memoir, a photo essay, a short graphic narrative, or an excerpt from a longer work...
read moreF(r)iction
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 11/13/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the F(r)iction website is given biannually for a short story. Using only the online submission system, submit a story of 1,001 to...
read moreFine Arts Work Center
Cash Prize: $1,300
Entry Fee: $40
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Fellowships for a seven-month residency at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Massachusetts, are given annually to four poets and four fiction writers who have not...
read moreLitMag
Cash Prize: $1,500
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,500 and publication in LitMag is given annually for a single poem. The winner will also have their work reviewed by agents Amy Bishop-Wycisk (Trellis...
read morePerugia Press
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $2,000, publication by Perugia Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a first or second poetry collection by a woman poet, inclusive of all gender-...
read moreCommonwealth Club of California
Cash Prize: $2,500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Five prizes of $2,500 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, a first book of fiction, a book of creative nonfiction, and a book dealing with a...
read moreAcademy of American Poets
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Academy of American Poets website in the Poem-a-Day series is given annually for a poem that helps readers recognize “the vulnerable...
read moreArkansas International
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $20
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Arkansas International will be given annually for a single poem. Writers who have not published a poetry collection by May 1, 2027...
read moreFordham University at Lincoln Center
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Poetry
Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Fordham University Press are given annually for poetry collections. The winners also receive a one-on-one publicity consultation...
read moreNightboat Books
Cash Prize: $1,200
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Poetry
Up to four prizes of $1,200 each, publication by Nightboat Books, and 25 author copies are given annually for poetry collections. The editors will judge. Using only the online...
read morePushcart Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 is given occasionally for a fiction or nonfiction manuscript that has been rejected by a commercial publisher. The award recognizes “worthy manuscripts that...
read moreBrooklyn Film & Arts Festival
Cash Prize: $500
Entry Fee: $0
Application Deadline: 11/15/26
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $500 and publication on the Brooklyn Film & Arts Festival website is given annually for a work of nonfiction that is set in Brooklyn, New York, and renders the...
read moreThe Story Prize
Cash Prize: $20,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 11/16/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $20,000 is given annually for a story collection written in English and published in the United States in the current year. Two runners-up will receive $5,000 each,...
read moreGunpowder Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $15
Application Deadline: 11/16/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000, bilingual publication in English and Spanish by Gunpowder Press, and 10 author copies will be given annually for a poetry chapbook by a Latinx poet who is...
read moreWriter’s Digest
Cash Prize: $3,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/16/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $3,000 is given annually for a short short story. The winner is also provided money for travel and lodging expenses to attend the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference....
read moreCommunity of Literary Magazines & Presses
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $65
Application Deadline: 11/18/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Three prizes of $2,000 each are given annually for a book of poetry, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction published by an independent press in the current year...
read moreAtlanta Writers Club
Cash Prize: $2,000
Entry Fee: $75
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of $2,000 is given biennially for a novel, novella, or a short story collection written by a current or past resident of Georgia and published in the past two years....
read moreRed Hen Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $10
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Red Hen Press is given annually for a story or essay collection, a novel, a memoir, or a hybrid work of prose by a queer writer. Using only...
read moreBoa Editions
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Boa Editions is given annually for a debut book of poetry. Jennifer Chang will judge. Submit a manuscript of 65 to 120 pages with a $30...
read moreFish Publishing
Cash Prize: $3,500
Entry Fee: $28
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Fiction
A prize of €3,000 (approximately $3,500) and publication in the annual Fish Publishing anthology is given annually for a short story. The winner will also be invited to attend...
read moreUniversity of Georgia Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $30
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry
A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Georgia Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner is also invited to read from their book at the Georgia...
read moreGreen Linden Press
Cash Prize: $1,000
Entry Fee: $25
Application Deadline: 11/30/26
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
A prize of $1,000 and publication by Green Linden Press is given annually for a book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction translated from any language into English....
read more